Tom Saap Beef is one of the most popular spicy soups in Thailand. Given our deep love for spices, you can expect this dish to be flavorful yet delightfully simple.
The soup features a spicy and sour beef broth infused with fragrant herbs such as lemongrass, chili, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, shallot, garlic, and coriander root.
The soup base also includes fish sauce, palm sugar, fresh lime juice, salt, roasted chili flakes, fresh chili, and ground-roasted rice, resulting in a perfectly balanced salty and sour taste.
Tom Saap Soup is quite similar to Tom Yum Soup, though with distinct differences. Tom Saap tends to be more sour and is typically cooked with pork ribs and beef. On the other hand, Tom Yum, or Tom Yum Goong, is often made with shrimp and seafood, with the addition of Thai chili paste and coconut milk for a different, flavorful soup result.
For this recipe, you do not have to follow it to a tee. Feel free to experiment with various types of meat. You can use any cut of beef or pork ribs, or even opt for a vegetarian version with just vegetables.
If you choose the vegetarian route, I recommend trying different types of mushrooms, as they complement the flavor of Tom Saap soup quite well.
Tom Saap Beef is mostly served with Thai steamed Jasmine Rice as a side dish or enjoy it as its own.
If you are looking for more Thai soup recipes, please feel free to explore more Thai soup recipes, here are a few to consider: Homemade Wonton Soup Recipe, Authentic Tom Yum Goong Soup Recipe, Easy Thai Chicken Rice Porridge (Jok Gai), and Authentic Thai Coconut Chicken Soup (Tom Kha Gai) Recipe.
To make this recipe, you are going to need:
- 400 g. Diced beef
- 500 ml. Water
- 50 g. Shallot
- 50 g. Galanga
- 30 g. Lemongrass
- 3 coriander root
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2-3 fresh chili
- 10 kaffir lime leaves
- 6 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon palm sugar
- 1 tablespoon roasted chili flakes
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make Thai Spicy Beef Soup (Tom Saap) Recipe
1 Start by gathering all the necessary ingredients for the Tom Saap Beef soup.
2 Cut all the herbs into small pieces.
3 Use a large clay or wooden mortar to crush all of the herb ingredients.
4 Place a soup pot over medium-high heat. Pour 500 ml of water into the pot and add the lemongrass, galangal, shallot, coriander root, fresh chili, garlic, and kaffir lime leaves from the wooden mortar to the boiling water. Allow the herbs to simmer for about 5 minutes until they become fragrant.
5 Add the beef to the herbs and maintain the heat. Sprinkle in the salt and let the beef slowly simmer for about 20-30 minutes, allowing the flavors to combine.
6 Add the beef to the herbs in the pot and maintain the heat. Sprinkle in the salt and let the beef slowly simmer for about 20-30 minutes, allowing the flavors to combine.
7 Add fish sauce, palm sugar, and roasted chili flakes. Stir to combine them for about 5 minutes, allowing all the ingredients to infuse the flavors.
8 Taste and adjust until you achieve the desired balance. The flavors should be a harmonious blend of sourness, and spiciness.
9 Transfer to a bowl, serve, and enjoy!
Other Thai Recipes You Might Like
Here are some of my favorite Thai that I think you might like. For more Thai cuisine, check out my Thai recipe page.
Thai Spicy Beef Soup (Tom Saap) Recipe
It’s time to spice up your soup game with our Thai spicy beef soup or Tom Saap homemade easy-to-follow recipe.
Ingredients
- 400 g. Diced beef
- 500 ml. Water
- 50 g. Shallot
- 50 g. Galanga
- 30 g. Lemongrass
- 3 coriander root
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2-3 fresh chili
- 10 kaffir lime leaves
- 6 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon palm sugar
- 1 tablespoon roasted chili flakes
Directions
- Start by gathering all the necessary ingredients for the Tom Saap Beef soup.
- Cut all the herbs into small pieces.
- Use a large clay or wooden mortar to crush all of the herb ingredients.
- Place a soup pot over medium-high heat. Pour 500 ml of water into the pot and add the lemongrass, galangal, shallot, coriander root, fresh chili, garlic, and kaffir lime leaves from the wooden mortar to the boiling water. Allow the herbs to simmer for about 5 minutes until they become fragrant.
- Add the beef to the herbs and maintain the heat. Sprinkle in the salt and let the beef slowly simmer for about 20-30 minutes, allowing the flavors to combine.
- Add the beef to the herbs in the pot and maintain the heat. Sprinkle in the salt and let the beef slowly simmer for about 20-30 minutes, allowing the flavors to combine.
- Add fish sauce, palm sugar, and roasted chili flakes. Stir to combine them for about 5 minutes, allowing all the ingredients to infuse the flavors.
- Taste and adjust until you achieve the desired balance. The flavors should be a harmonious blend of sourness, and spiciness.
- Transfer to a bowl, serve, and enjoy!
